There’s more than one way to build relationships

December 8th, 2010

This week I met someone for the first time that I’ve had contact with on two social media platforms in the past months (LinkedIn and Twitter for those interested in such things). As we talked about various things I told him that I hadn’t thought I would EVER do this – meet someone “online” and build a relationship, prior to meeting them face-to-face. And, this isn’t the first time I’ve had a meeting such as this. So, it got me thinking about conversations I’ve had with people over the last 18 months about building relationships.

Changed my mind

Somewhere along the line, in the last 18 months, I have become convinced that it is quite possible to build relationships with people I’ve not met (yet). I can’t pinpoint when or how this happened – although I know exactly who I have met face-to-face following online discussions and not vice versa as I can still count them on my fingers.

Equally, I have re-established connections with former colleagues having found them online, many of whom I had parted company with over the last years, neither of us thinking we might find it useful to stay in touch. Unless I’d known exactly where they were going, I’d have been highly unlikely to re-establish contact with all but a few close friends.

How did this happen?

What I know is that these relationships were built by having discussions around mutual interests or themes – group discussion boards, twitter themes, others’ blogs and articles. By the time we met, we both knew quite a bit about each other. I can’t predict where any of my current business relationships will get to in the next few years, but I know that I have learnt to use a variety of tools to maintain these relationships and this can only enhance my network. I’ve even been quoted as a LinkedIn and networking expert!

And you?

As 2010 draws to a close what have you learnt in the last year or so? What do you think you need to learn more about in the next year or more? your networking and relationship building strategies and activities changed? What else do you need to do?

If you’d like help putting your networking strategy into place, deciding on the activities for you and your staff and the skills and knowledge you might need to get started, please contact Sue on:

sue@suecohen.co.uk 020 8953 6477 / 07971 400653

Feel free to send me an invite on LinkedIn and let me know how you found me –

http://uk.linkedin.com/in/suecohen01

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